Alouettes outbid Lions for services of QB Vernon Adams

Several days ago, Vernon Adams wasn’t willing to sign a three-year contract with British Columbia. Then he was traded to the Alouettes and, within 48 hours, agreed to a three-year deal with Montreal.

Coincidence? Unlikely. The Als, a team that seemingly has been battling salary-cap issues, offered more money than did the Lions. That was confirmed to the Montreal Gazette by Adams’s Boston-based agent, Mook Williams. And, at least on the surface, it would appear Adams’s path to a starting job might be shorter with the Als than it would have been out west.

“In terms of his ability to play, right now, it certainly seems like he has a better chance to play sooner in Montreal,” Williams said. “But as we know, one day or one week can change the entire landscape.

“We’re fully confident in Vernon’s abilities, and he has shown in the past he can learn offences very quickly. On paper, it appears his ability to play in the short term would be better in Montreal.”

The Lions, who have Travis Lulay and Jonathan Jennings, were reportedly offering Adams a three-year contract worth a total of $164,000, including the rookie minimum of $52,000. The Als, who have veteran Kevin Glenn at quarterback and a bunch of unknown commodities, would have come in somewhat higher, but it’s not like Williams was operating in a free-agent world.

Still, general manager Jim Popp found the money for Adams — which can only mean he’s likely to shed salary, and perhaps several bodies, by the time veterans report to training camp at Bishop’s University this weekend. And probably much sooner.

The Als have six pivots under contract: Glenn, Rakeem Cato, Brandon Bridge, Jonathan Crompton, Adams and Tajh Boyd. Former Canadian university quarterbacks Drew Burko and Jimmy Underdahl also will be on the field when rookies begin practising on Wednesday. Crompton, recovering from shoulder surgery, won’t be medically cleared immediately.

Management’s extremely high on Bridge, a non-import who attended South Alabama and was selected in the fourth round (31st overall) of the 2015 Canadian college draft. That might mean Cato, whom the Als won with last season, becomes expendable. It’s believed Montreal recently attempted to trade Cato.

Although the Als traded a first-round draft choice in 2017 to the Lions for the rights to Adams, management has denied its wagon’s hitched to him down the road, knowing it will be criticized should he fail to meet his potential.

“He’s a talented player, extraordinarily talented at the college level,” assistant GM Joey Abrams said. “We thought it was worthwhile to trade our first-round draft pick, and a potential Canadian starter down the road, for his talents. But to read anything into it and put that (pressure) on his shoulders, I don’t think that’s fair.

“We traded for his talents, which we feel fits very well in the CFL.”

Adams, 23, spent three seasons at Eastern Washington, where he passed for 10,438 yards and 110 touchdowns. He was intercepted 31 times, leading the Eagles to an overall 28-6 record. He transferred to Oregon as a senior. The Ducks went 7-3, Adams passing for 2,643 yards and 26 touchdowns, with only six interceptions.

But the 5-foot-11, 200-pounder went undrafted and, despite receiving tryout invitations from Seattle and Washington, wasn’t offered a contract. He was on the Lions’ negotiation list since he was a freshman, and always believed it was his destiny to come to the Canadian Football League.

“I’m just happy to be here, that a team wanted me. The fact they traded a first-round pick, that there said it all,” Adams said Monday morning, after he met the media at a Montreal airport hotel. “He (Popp) did that. He must think very highly of me. I was just excited when I talked to him and he told me that.

“I’m here and I’m playing for a team that wants me to play.”

And it sounds like the native of Pasadena, Calif., intends on making the CFL his career. He’ll be 26 when his contract expires with Montreal, his lack of height always the one strike against him.

“I’m not thinking about the NFL,” Adams said. “This is the happiest I’ve been since I committed to Eastern Washington. I want to be here. A lot of guys who come from the NFL, or whatever, might not. I knew I might be going to the CFL. Everybody always knocked me about my size. I’m just happy some CFL team wanted me.”

Adams vowed he’ll be ready to play this season — although he’s not expecting to. Offensive co-ordinator Anthony Calvillo said the key for any young quarterback is to absorb information as quickly as possible, then execute on the field.

“I’ve never been too concerned with the size or height of quarterbacks,” said Calvillo, who spent 16 seasons with Montreal. “If they can anticipate and get the ball off, that’s the most important thing.”

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